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(Model.)

A. J. ALDRIGH STRAP FASTENER.

No. 270,922. Patented Jan.23,1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ANDREW J. ALDEICH, E EEW YORK, N. Y.

STRAP-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,922, dated January 23, 183.

Application filed July 1, 1882. (Model.) Y

To all whom it may concerti Be it known that I, ANDREW J. ALDRICH, ot' the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Improvementtightening and securing straps and bands around trunks and other parcels. It has for its object the fasteningof straps about a trunk or parcel in a readier manner than with an ordinary buckle, by a simple device which, affordin g greatleverage in drawing up the strap, will enable a person to secure it as tightly as may in any case bc desired with perfect ease and very little effort.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a central longitudinal section of my improved lever strap fastener and tightener when in position, with the strap engaged thereby, but left loose. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, with the device in position to exert a leverage upon the strap to tighten it. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section illustratingthe device when folded entirely over to secure and hold the tightened strap, and locked in position; Fig. 4, a? plan view of the device as shown in Fig. 3.

My lever strap-fastener is constructed simply ofa light metallic frame consisting of two side bars, A A, Fig. 4, connected by aflxed crossbar, B, at one end, and a second xed crossbar, B', at about one-third the length of the frame from its opposite end. A seriesot' apertures, C C C, Figs. l and 3, are drilled opposite to each otherin the side bars, A A, by preference at equal distances apart between the cross-barsB and B', to receive detachable transverse pins D D.- A third pin, E, is pivoted to the free end of one of the side bars in position to swing across and rest in a notch, S, (see Figs. 2 and 4,) on the corresponding end ot'.

` theopposite side bar, as shown in Fig. 4. If

preferred, the detachable pins D D' may in like manner be pivoted at one end to one side bar, so as to swing across and engage notches .in the opposite side bar, instead of being inserted through holes therein; but in such'case, in

additional cross-bar, in which case the end ot' i the strap to be held thereby becomes tixed to the frame, instead of being detachable by the removal of the pin.

G G are the ends of astrap or band lcd around the trunk or package to be secured.

One end, G, is designed to be secured to or held by the outer cross-bar, B, of the frame,

and the other end, G', by the pin D'. Theat tachment of the end G of the stra-p to the bar B may be effected by sewing it thereto, or by carrying it around the same and conning its end by means ot' a slide or buckle, H, or other equivalent device, b'y which the length of the strap may be adjusted. The attachment ot' the end G' to the frame is eii'ected by sewing or otherwise fastening it to .the bar or pin D', when it is iixed to the frame, orby forming a loop therein, (see Fig. l of the drawings,) through which the pin D' is passed when lett detachable. When the two ends of the strap led around the trunk have thus been secured to the frame A A and the length of the strap properly adjusted bymeans ofthe slide H, the free end ofthe frame is laid over upon that end, G', Vwhi'ch'is secured to the inner pin or bar, D', and the detachable pin D is inserted through one of the-sets of apertures G C in the frame, so as to pass under the strap at this point, in the manner illustrated in Fig. l. The frame is then thrown over toward the opposite end,

G, of the strap, as illustrated in Fig. 2. This movement lifts the pin D, and with it the strap resting thereon, and as it passes over the center folds the strap back upon itself, taking'up thereby, to a corresponding extent, the slack in the strap. 'lheframe, asit is thus carried over, operates as a lever, with the end B as its fulcrum, to draw upon the strap engaged by the pin D and tighten the same, the extent of leverage and consequent tension upon the strap IOO being determined by the position of the pin D, as it is placed nearer to or farther from the fulcrum end,B, of the frame. "When the frame is thrown entirely over to lie hat upon the strap, as shown in Fig. 3, it is locked and secured by passing the swinging pin E under the strap and engaging its free end in the notch S on the opposite bar of the frame, as shown in Fig. 4.

The slide or buckle Hmay be dispensed with and the end G of the strap secured directly to the bar B of the frame in all cases where the strap is designed for a trunk or package of a determinate size to which the length ot' the strap is properly proportioned, the adjustment of the pin D .permitting an adjustment ot' the length and tension of the strap to a considerable extentindependentof an adj Listing-slide, H.

While the locking-pin E, which closes and secures the free open end of the' frame, is, for convenience, linked or pivoted at one end to the frame, it is evident that such a permanent connection thereto is not essential to its functions, and that a detached pin may be used, in connection with apertures or notches in the side bars at the free end of the frame, to secure it when the strap has been drawn up and tightened thereby.

Although, for the sake of convenience in securing both ends of the strap to the frame separately, au independent cross pin or bar, D', is provided, to which one end of the strap may be secured, the other end being fastened, as described, to the end bar, B, I contemplate securing both ends of the strap by any suitable means or device to the end bar, B, in which case the transverse strap-pin D' may be wholl y dispensed with. A

n When it is found desirable to use a strap whose ends are united together to form an endless band, and which shall be wholly detached from the tightening device, the latter is simply laid upon Ythe band or strap after it has been passed around the trunk or package,

and the slack or loose portion of the strap being drawn in upward between the strap-pin D and the inner cross-bar, B', the detachable take-up pin D is slipped under it and secured in manner as shown in Fig. 1. The device is then folded over, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and will operate to tighten the strap in manner as hereinbefore described.

1 claim as my inventionl. A device for tightening -and securing trunk and other straps, consisting of an openended metallic frame constructed ot' side bars, A A, a iixed cross-bar, B', and an end bar,B, in combination with a detachable take-up pin, D, engaging a series ot' holes or notches in the sidel bars intermediate between the cross-bars B and B',and an outer transverse locking-pin, E, adapted t0 engage and close the free open end ot' the frame, all substantiallyin the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination, in my improved trunkstrap tghtener, with the open-ended metallic frame A A B B', the detachable take-uppin D, and the transverse locking-pin E, of an auxiliary transverse pin or bar, D', substan tially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The combination, with an open frame consisting of side bars, A A, connected by crossbars B B', and carrying a transverse strap-pin, D', a detachable takeup pin, D, and locking-pin E, of a strap 0r band, G G', connected at oneend to the outer cross-bar,B, and

at the other to the strap-pin D', substantiallyy in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW J. ALDRIUH.

Witnesses:

JoHN A. ELLIs, J. F. AGKER, Jr. 

